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Abstract:

Monitoring system of person coming to entrance comprises camera for
capturing image of the person and recorder for the captured image, the
system informing the person of the image recordation for deterring a
crime in bad visit case or making polite notice in goodwill visit case.
Unlock system has an intercom for visitor to request unlock and a self
unlock operating portion for resident. If unlock done through intercom
with acquaintance confirmed, polite notice is preferred, whereas "note
record" is added to the image record in case of intercom unlock with
unacquainted assumed. If unlock done by resident, the information and the
image recordation are withheld. If entrance in a group detected, "note
record" is added to the image record in case bad person successively
follows goodwill person duly unlocking entrance. Privacy of acquaintance
visitor image is protected by password. "Note record" is added to image
record without voice message.

Claims:

1. A monitoring system of a person coming to an entrance of a building
comprising:a camera arranged to capture an image of the person;a recorder
arranged to record the image captured by the camera; andan informer
arranged to inform the person of the capture and the recoding of the
image of the person.

2. The monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising an
unlock system of the entrance, wherein the informer is arranged to be
controlled by the unlock system to change the manner of information.

3. The monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the informer is
arranged to withhold the information with the unlock system identifying
the person as a resident in the building whereas the informer carries out
the information with the unlock system identifying the person as a
visitor.

4. The monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the informer is
arranged to change the contents of information depending on whether the
unlock system identifying the person as an acquaintance visitor or an
unacquainted visitor.

5. The monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein the unlock system
includes an intercom arranged to receive an unlock direction from inside
of the building in response to a call from the visitor, the unlock system
identifying the person as the acquaintance visitor in response to the
unlock direction accompanied with an acquaintance confirmation made
inside the building.

6. The monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a
detector arranged to detect a group of persons to enter the entrance,
wherein the informer is arranged to be controlled by the detector to
change the manner of information.

7. The monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein the informer is
arranged to change the contents of information depending on whether or
not the detector detects a group of persons.

8. The monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising an
identifier arranged to identify the person, wherein the informer is
arranged to repeat the information at deferent places in the building,
the repetition being omitted with the identifier identifying the person
as one of a resident and an acquaintance visitor.

9. The monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising an
administrator arranged to add additional information to the image recoded
by the recorder for a later inspection.

10. A monitoring system of a person coming to an entrance of a building
comprising:a camera arranged to capture an image of the person;a recorder
arranged to record the image captured by the camera; andan administrator
arranged to add additional information to the image recoded by the
recorder for a later inspection.

11. The monitoring system according to claim 10, further comprising an
unlock system of the entrance, wherein the administrator is arranged to
be controlled by the unlock system to change the additional information
to be added to the recorded image.

12. The monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the recorder is
arranged to withhold the recoding function with the unlock system
identifying the person as a resident in the building whereas the recorder
carries out the recording function with the unlock system identifying the
person as a visitor.

13. The monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the administrator
is arranged to change the contents of the additional information
depending on whether the unlock system identifying the person as an
acquaintance visitor or an unacquainted visitor.

14. The monitoring system according to claim 13, wherein the unlock system
includes an intercom arranged to receive an unlock direction from inside
of the building in response to a call from the visitor, the unlock system
identifying the person as the acquaintance visitor in response to the
unlock direction accompanied with an acquaintance confirmation made
inside the building.

15. The monitoring system according to claim 10, further comprising a
detector arranged to detect a group of persons to enter the entrance,
wherein the administrator is arranged to be controlled by the detector to
change the additional information to be added to the recorded image.

16. The monitoring system according to claim 15, wherein the administrator
is arranged to change the contents of the additional information
depending on whether or not the detector detects a group of persons.

17. The monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein the recorder is
arranged to change the accessibility to the recorded image in response to
the additional information added by the administrator indicative of type
of visitors relating to privacy protection level.

18. The monitoring system according to claim 10, further comprising a
voice message system, wherein the administrator is arranged to be
controlled by the voice massage system to change the additional
information to be added to the recorded image depending on whether or not
a voice message is left.

19. A monitoring system of a person coming to an entrance of a building
comprising:a camera arranged to capture an image of the person;a recorder
arranged to record the image captured by the camera; andan unlock system
of the entrance,wherein the recorder is arranged to withhold the recoding
function with the unlock system identifying the person as a resident in
the building whereas the recorder carries out the recording function with
the unlock system identifying the person as a visitor.

20. The monitoring system according to claim 19, wherein the unlock system
includes an intercom arranged to receive an unlock direction from inside
of the building in response to a call from the visitor and a resident
unlock operating portion, the unlock system identifying the person as the
resident with the resident unlock operating portion duly operated whereas
the unlock system identifying the person as a visitor with a call through
the intercom made.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]1. Field of the Invention

[0002]This invention relates to a monitoring system of a person coming to
an entrance of a building.

[0003]2. Description of the Related Art

[0004]In this field of the art, various attempts have been done with
respect to a monitoring system of a person coming to an entrance of a
building with the security taken into consideration.

[0005]For example, Japanese Publication No. 2008-79105 proposes an
intercom system for a collective housing including a communal entrance
unit having a camera for capturing a visitor and home units each located
in each home, respectively, in communication with the communal entrance
unit, in which the image captured by the camera is recorded if a call
number input at the communal entrance unit does not coincide with a
reference call number or only a room number is input at the communal
entrance unit.

[0006]However, there still exist in this field of art many demands for
improvements of a monitoring system of a person coming to an entrance of
a building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007]Preferred embodiments of this invention provide a monitoring system
of a person coming to an entrance of a building for effectively deterring
a crime by the person in case of coming with bad intention.

[0008]Preferred embodiments of this invention provide a monitoring system
of a person coming to an entrance of a building for avoiding impoliteness
to the person in case of coming with goodwill.

[0009]Preferred embodiments of this invention provide a monitoring system
of a person coming to an entrance of a building for avoiding a possible
trouble with the person in advance.

[0010]Preferred embodiments of this invention provide a monitoring system
of a person coming to an entrance of a building in which an inspection of
the image captured and recorded though the system will be effectively
carried out afterward.

[0011]Preferred embodiments of this invention provide a monitoring system
of a person coming to an entrance of a building for protecting privacy of
the person.

[0012]A preferred embodiment of this invention provides a monitoring
system of a person coming to an entrance of a building comprising a
camera arranged to capture an image of the person, a recorder arranged to
record the image captured by the camera and an informer arranged to
inform the person of the capture and the recoding of the image of the
person. According to this feature, since the person coming to the
entrance is informed of the fact that his/her image is recorded, the
person is deterred from a crime or noticed in advance according to his
intention.

[0013]In a detailed design according to the above preferred embodiment,
the monitoring system further comprises an unlock system of the entrance,
wherein the informer is arranged to be controlled by the unlock system to
change the manner of information. Accordingly, the manner of information
is suitably changed in accordance with the type of the person accessing
the unlock system.

[0014]In more detail, the informer is arranged to withhold the information
with the unlock system identifying the person as a resident in the
building whereas the informer carries out the information with the unlock
system identifying the person as a visitor. Thus, redundant information
to a resident familiar to the monitoring system is skipped whereas the
information is carried out to a visitor on the safe side.

[0015]According to another more detailed feature, the informer is arranged
to change the contents of information depending on whether the unlock
system identifying the person as an acquaintance visitor or an
unacquainted visitor. In more detail, the unlock system includes an
intercom arranged to receive an unlock direction from inside of the
building in response to a call from the visitor, the unlock system
identifying the person as the acquaintance visitor in response to the
unlock direction accompanied with an acquaintance confirmation made
inside the building. Thus, it is possible to make a deterrent manner of
information as to unacquainted visitor, while a polite manner of
information is to be made as to acquaintance visitor.

[0016]In another detailed design according to the above preferred
embodiment, the monitoring system further comprises a detector arranged
to detect a group of persons to enter the entrance, wherein the informer
is arranged to be controlled by the detector to change the manner of
information. In more detail, the informer is arranged to change the
contents of information depending on whether or not the detector detects
a group of persons. This feature is advantageous to make a timely
deterrent against such a case that a bad person skipping an unlocking
procedure successively follows a resident or goodwill visitor to enter
the building during the entrance duly unlocked is kept open.

[0017]In still another detailed design according to the above preferred
embodiment, the monitoring system further comprises an identifier
arranged to identify the person, wherein the informer is arranged to
repeat the information at deferent places in the building, the repetition
being omitted with the identifier identifying the person as one of a
resident and an acquaintance visitor. Thus, the repetition of deterrent
information is suitably focused to unacquainted visitor.

[0018]According to another feature of the preferred embodiment of this
invention, a monitoring system of a person coming to an entrance of a
building comprises a camera arranged to capture an image of the person, a
recorder arranged to record the image captured by the camera and an
administrator arranged to add additional information to the image recoded
by the recorder. This is advantageous to a later inspection of the
recorded image.

[0019]In a detailed, design according to the above preferred embodiment,
the monitoring system further comprises an unlock system of the entrance,
wherein the administrator is arranged to be controlled by the unlock
system to change the additional information to be added to the recorded
image. Accordingly, the later inspection can be effectively practiced on
the basis of the changed additional information.

[0020]In more detail the recorder above is arranged to withhold the
recoding function with the unlock system identifying the person as a
resident in the building whereas the recorder carries out the recording
function with the unlock system identifying the person as a visitor.
Thus, redundant image is omitted for facilitating the later inspection.

[0021]According to another more detailed feature, the administrator above
is arranged to change the contents of the additional information
depending on whether the unlock system identifying the person as an
acquaintance visitor or an unacquainted visitor. In more detail, the
unlock system includes an intercom arranged to receive an unlock
direction from inside of the building in response to a call from the
visitor, the unlock system identifying the person as the acquaintance
visitor in response to the unlock direction accompanied with an
acquaintance confirmation made inside the building. Thus, the later
inspection may be effectively focused on the recoded imaged with the
additional information relating to unacquainted visitors, for example.

[0022]In another detailed design according to the above preferred
embodiment, the monitoring system further comprises a detector arranged
to detect a group of persons to enter the entrance, wherein the
administrator is arranged to be controlled by the detector to change the
additional information to be added to the recorded image. In more detail,
the administrator is arranged to change the contents of the additional
information depending on whether or not the detector detects a group of
persons. This feature is advantageous to facilitating the later
inspection to focus on such a case that a bad person skipping an
unlocking procedure successively follows a resident or goodwill visitor
to enter the building during the entrance duly unlocked is kept open.

[0023]In another detailed design according to the above preferred
embodiment, the recorder is arranged to change the accessibility to the
recorded image in response to the additional information added by the
administrator indicative of type of visitors relating to privacy
protection level. Thus, the image of acquaintance visitor is prevented
from being accessed by a person without permission.

[0024]In another detailed design according to the above preferred
embodiment, the monitoring system further comprises a voice message
system, wherein the administrator is arranged to be controlled by the
voice massage system to change the additional information to be added to
the recorded image depending on whether or not a voice message is left. A
person of goodwill is generally expected to leave some voice message to
avoid impoliteness of silence, while a visitor who has gone without a
word is assumed be a person with bad intention such as a sneak thief
coming to confirm absence from a target home in advance. Thus, according
to the above detailed feature, the later inspection is effectively
possible with the recorded image without voice message focused on.

[0025]According to still another feature of the preferred embodiment of
this invention, a monitoring system of a person coming to an entrance of
a building comprises a camera arranged to capture an image of the person,
a recorder arranged to record the image captured by the camera and an
unlock system of the entrance, wherein the recorder is arranged to
withhold the recoding function with the unlock system identifying the
person as a resident in the building whereas the recorder carries out the
recording function with the unlock system identifying the person as a
visitor. In more detail, the unlock system includes an intercom arranged
to receive an unlock direction from inside of the building in response to
a call from the visitor and a resident unlock operating portion, the
unlock system identifying the person as the resident with the resident
unlock operating portion duly operated whereas the unlock system
identifying the person as a visitor with a call through the intercom
made. Thus, redundant image recording is suitably omitted.

[0026]Other features, elements, arrangements, steps, characteristics and
advantages according to this invention will be readily understood from
the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.

[0027]The above description should not be deemed to limit the scope of
this invention, which should be properly determined on the basis of the
attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the monitoring system according to
an embodiment of this invention.

[0029]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the function carried out by common
base unit of administrative room in FIG. 1.

[0030]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the visitor
process in step S22 in FIG. 2.

[0031]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the group
process in step S24 in FIG. 2.

[0032]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the elevator
process in step S34 in FIG. 2.

[0033]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the message
process in step S38 in FIG. 2.

[0034]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the recorded
image administration process in step S36 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the monitoring system according to
an embodiment of this invention. The system is formed as an audio-visual
common intercom system for a collective housing such as a condominium. A
resident or a visitor arriving at the condominium along street 2 firstly
enters into communal entrance hall 6 as indicated by way 4. Presence
sensor 8 is arranged to automatically detect the resident or the visitor
appearing at communal entrance hall 6 to send a detection signal to
common base unit 12 of administrative room 10 of the condominium. In
response to the detection signal, common base unit 12 directs common
branch unit 14 and common recorder 16 to have hall camera 18 capture
motion image of entire communal entrance hall 6 and to have common
recorder 16 start to record the motion image from hall camera 18. Hall
camera 18 is arranged to be capable of capturing the image of a person
regardless of the location of the person in communal entrance hall 6. For
this purpose, hall camera 18 may be a combination of a plurality of
cameras each taking its chare of various angles to cover entire of
communal entrance hall 6 in total.

[0036]The resident or the visitor operates operating portion 20 of common
branch unit 14. In the case of the resident, the operation means an
insertion of an unlock card, or an input of a password, or an biometrics
authentication. In the resident is successfully identified by means of
one or a combination of the above operations, common base unit 12 has
common branch unit 6 instantly unlock electric lock 24 without activating
face camera 22 to allow the identified resident passing through communal
entrance hall 6 and get on elevator 26. Thus, the resident is capable of
getting on elevator 26 by way 28 to set destination floor at operating
portion 27.

[0037]On the other hand, in the case of the visitor, the operation at
operation portion 20 in communal entrance hall 6 means an designation of
room number at intercom buttons to call the home to visit. In response to
the input of room number, common base unit 12 directs common branch unit
14 and common recorder 16 to have face camera 22 capture motion image of
the face of the visitor in front of face camera 22 and to have common
recorder 16 start to record the motion image from face camera 22. Face
camera 22 also acts as intercom camera to inform the designated home of
the face image of the visitor.

[0038]As has been briefly mentioned above, common base unit 12, in
synchronism with the recording of the face image, sends the same image of
face camera 22 along with the calling jingle to a local base unit of the
home (e.g., local base unit 32 of first home 30) with the room number
(e.g., "814") designated at operating portion 20 by the visitor. The sent
face image from face camera 22 is displayed on monitor 34 of local base
unit 32 or first home 30. In addition to the image, voice of visitor
picked up by microphone 36 of common branch unit 14 is transmitted to
speaker 37 of local base unit 32, while voice in first home 30 picked up
by microphone 35 is transmitted to speaker 38 of common branch base unit
32, intercom conversation being thus possible between the visitor and a
person in first home 30. Through the intercom conversation along with the
face image, the person in first home 30 can operate local base unit 32 to
send out unlock signal if the safety of the visitor is acceptable. In
response to the unlock signal from local base unit 32, common base unit
12 has common branch unit 6 unlock electric lock 24 to allow the accepted
visitor passing through communal entrance hall 6 and get on elevator 26.
Further, common base unit 12 has elevator 26 allow operation of operating
portion 27 to work. Thus, the visitor is capable of opening the door of
elevator 26 to get on it by way 28 and setting destination floor at
operating portion 27.

[0039]Upon operating local base unit 30 for sending the unlock signal, the
person in first home 30 selects between two options of detailed
operations in accordance with whether or not the visitor is an
acquaintance. For this purpose, operating portion 39 of local base unit
32 includes two buttons for sending the unlock signal, one is in
exclusive use for an acquaintance and the other in exclusive use for a
stranger such as a deliveryman. Or operating portion 39 is arranged to
have an auxiliary button in addition to a main unlock button, wherein the
main button is to be pushed with the auxiliary button kept pushed in the
case of an acquaintance, while the main button is to be simply pushed
with the auxiliary button not pushed in the case of a stranger. In any
case, the operation exclusive to an acquaintance causes a unlock signal
accompanied by "acquaintance flag", which is sent to common base unit 12.
Upon receipt of the unlock signal without the acquaintance flag, common
base unit 12 has speaker 38 of common base branch 14 make an announcement
such as "Please note your face has been just recorded. Thank you." Such
an announcement acts as a deterrent to a direct crime against first home
30 by a fraud deliveryman or to an indirect crime by a criminal planning
to firstly pass through communal entrance hall 6 and get on elevator 26
by means of cajoling the person of first home 30 to send the unlock
signal and then to harm another person in other homes or an inside public
space who has not known of the invasion of the criminal. The expression
of the announcement is advisable to be brief and specific for the purpose
of the most effective deterrent. On the other hand, the expression is
advisable to be permissible by a goodwill deliveryman or the like who
understands the needs of security at the communal entrance hall and
expects the possibility of encountering some caution announce or the like
upon visiting a customer.

[0040]Upon receipt of the unlock signal with the acquaintance flag
accompanying, common base unit 12 has speaker 38 of common base branch 14
make a notice announcement such as "Please note that faces of all
visitors to this condominium are recorded upon every intercom
conversation for the purpose of keeping safety of visitors and residents.
Your consideration has bee greatly appreciated." This is for avoiding
trouble with a visitor in advance who would be offended if he/she comes
to know afterward of the face recording without notice. Thus, the
expression in this case should not be flavored with any caution against
some illegal action, but a polite notice relying on forgiving spirit. The
presence or absence of the acquaintance flag is recorded as an attachment
to each recorded face image, which is advantageous in searching into face
images afterward for examination of evidence in case of a crime for
example since the face images can be easily classified into two groups
with or without acquaintance flag in accordance with the purpose of the
examination. The face image f the visitor in the case of acquaintance,
which has been recorded in common recorder 16, is of high privacy of the
visitor himself/herself and also of accepting home. Accordingly, the face
images recorded in common recorder 16 each with acquaintance flag are
kept in such a security condition that anyone cannot access the face
image unless authorized by a person relating to the visit of the
acquaintance to first home 30 according to a predetermined procedure.

[0041]As has been mentioned above, face camera 22 does not record face of
a resident, but records that of a visitor only. On the contrary, hall
camera 18 makes a record of image in communal entrance hall 6 in response
to presence sensor 8 detecting someone regardless of a resident or a
visitor, all the image from hall camera 18 being recorded in common
recorder 16. This is to inspect such a possible illegal case that a
person skipping the intercom conversation with bad intent will
successively follow a resident or goodwill visitor to pass through
communal entrance hall 6 with electric lock 14 once duly unlocked. For
this purpose, the image captured by hall camera 18 is processed to
extract person(s) from the image of entire communal entrance hall 6 and
to count the number of person(s). And a note record is added to the hall
image record if a group of persons, the number of which is greater than
the number of persons who actually execute the unlock operation,
successively passes through communal entrance hall 6. Such addition of
note record is effective to search the illegal case image in case of a
crime and to easily identify each person existing in the image of
communal entrance hall 6. The above case is frequently expected since it
is natural that a representative of a resident family group or a group of
visitors may execute the unlock operation and the other persons will
follow the representative without the unlock operation. It is difficult
to distinguish the above goodwill case from a criminal case. Thus, common
base unit 12 is arranged to have hall camera 18 and common recorder 16 to
record all case with the note record on the safe side. By the way, the
detection of the group to pass through communal entrance hall 6 may
possible not only processing the image captured by hall camera 18, but
also the output of presence sensor 8 may be utilizable by itself or in
combination with the processing of image captured by hall camera 22.

[0042]Elevator camera 40, as in the case of hall camera 18, is arranged to
be capable of capturing the image of a person regardless of the location
of the person in elevator 26. For this purpose, elevator camera 40 may be
a combination of a plurality of cameras each taking its chare of various
angles to cover entire of elevator 26 in total. Elevator camera 40, as in
the case of hall camera 18, makes a record of image of all people in
elevator 26 regardless of a resident or a visitor, all the image from
elevator camera 40 being recorded in common recorder 16. If elevator 26
departs from the floor of entrance hall 6 with a plurality of persons
detected or at least one person without the acquaintance flag contained,
speaker 42 makes an announcement such as "Please note that all images in
this elevator are recorded. Thank you." Such an announcement serves as a
repetition of the caution to a fraud visitor passing through communal
entrance hall 6 by own unlock procedure causing no acquaintance flag, or
as a first caution to a person with bad intention passing through
communal entrance hall 6 by means of having someone unlock electric lock
24 to successively follow. The caution in elevator 26 is expected to be
acceptable by a first visitor of goodwill or by a person of goodwill
riding with stranger(s) on same elevator 40. On the other hand, in the
case of elevator 40 departing from a floor other than the communal
entrance hall floor, or in the case of elevator 40 departing form the
communal entrance hall floor with a resident alone or a visitor causing
the acquaintance flag alone therein, the announce in omitted for avoiding
unnecessary botheration.

[0043]As shown by way 44, a person getting off elevator 26 at the
destination floor, comes to the destination home such as first home 30 by
way of shared corridor 48 as shown in way 46. A visitor in front of the
door of first hoe 30 can operate local branch unit 49 including outside
intercom call button or the like. In response to the operation of local
branch unit 49, home camera 50 captures the face of the visitor, which is
displayed on monitor 34 of local base unit 32. Thus, a person in first
home 30, as a result of the face check on monitor 34 and intercom
conversation through microphone 35 and speaker 37, can transmit an unlock
signal from local base unit 32 to local branch unit 49 to unlock first
home 30 for inviting the visitor into first home 30 as shown in way 52.
The face image captured by home camera 50 can be stored in common
recorder 16 under the control of base unit 32.

[0044]As has been mentioned above, the system according to this invention
is formed as an audio-visual common intercom system for a collective
housing such as a condominium. In FIG. 8, however, only second home 54 is
shown for indicating the relationship between a plurality of homes and
communal entrance hall in the simplest model. However, actual collective
housing such as a condominium includes many homes, which can be
understood through the simplest model in FIG. 2. Second home 54 includes
local base unit 58 connected with common base unit 12 and local branch
unit 62 connected with local base unit 58, the inside detailed structures
of which are omitted in FIG. 1 since they are just the same as those in
local base unit 32 and local branch unit 49 of first home 30. Any further
detailed explanation of second home 54 is omitted. In summary, however,
many homes such as second home 54 in the collective housing each
cooperate with communal entrance hall 6, administrative room 10, and
elevator 26 in the same manner as in the case of first home 30. And, the
caution announcement system in combination with the camera image
recording system against a person with bad intention which may be
introduced through unlock operation from any one of the many homes is
working in the same manner as explained with respect to first home 30.

[0045]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the function carried out by common
base unit 12 of administrative room 10 in FIG. 1. Common base unit 12 is
basically a computer, the flowchart in FIG. 2 showing the function of the
computer. The flowchart starts when the collective housing such as a
condominium is equipped with the monitoring system according to the
embodiment of this invention. If the flow starts, it is checked in step
S2 whether or not presence sensor 8 detects a presence of anyone in
communal entrance hall 6. If nobody is detected, step S2 is repeated to
wait for detection.

[0046]If it is confirmed in step S2 that presence sensor 8 detects a
presence of someone in communal entrance hall 6, the flow goes to step S4
to direct starting the image recoding function by hall camera 18 and
common recorder 16, the flow then advancing to step S6. In step S6 it is
checked whether or not presence sensor has lost the detection of someone
in communal entrance hall 6 and the resultant no detection condition
lasts over a predetermined time period. If the no detection over time is
detected in step S6, the flow goes to step S8 to stop the recording
function by hall camera 18 and common recorder 16. The flow then goes
back to step S2 to wait for a next detection of someone. On the other
hand, if it is determined in step S6 that presence sensor 8 continues to
detect someone or no detection condition lasts within the predetermined
time period, the flow goes to step S10 to check whether or not common
branch unit 14 is operated at operating portion 20. If no operation of
the operating portion 20 is detected in step S10, the flow goes back to
step S6 to repeat steps S6 and S10 for waiting for the expected operation
of common branch unit 14 unless the no detection period comes to last
over a predetermined time period.

[0047]If operation of the operating portion 20 of common branch unit 14 is
detected in step S10, the flow goes to step S12 to check whether or not
the operation is to make a call for first home 30 or the like to visit by
designating the room number thereof. If the room number designation is
confirmed in step 12, the flow goes to step S14 to start or continue the
record of face image from face camera 22. Further in step S16, the
intercom call signal and the face image of the visitor captured by face
camera 22 is transmitted to local base unit 32 of first hoe 30 to be
visited, the flow the going to step S18.

[0048]In step S18, it is checked whether or not the unlock signal is sent
back in response to the transmission of the call signal and the face
image. In the case of no response with the unlock signal, the flow goes
to step S20 to check whether or not a predetermined time lapsed after the
transmission of the call signal. If the time has not lapsed, the flow
goes from step S20 back to step S14 to repeat the loop from steps S14 to
S20 unless the unlock signal comes within the predetermined time. On the
other hand, if the unlock signal is determined in step S18, the flow goes
to step S22 to execute visitor process including record and announce, the
flow then goes to step S24. The details of the visitor process in step
S22 will be explained later.

[0049]On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the
operation is not to designating a room number, it means that the
operation is not made by a visitor to make an intercom call for first
home 30 or the like, but by a homecoming resident inserting the unlock
card, or inputting the password, or making the biometrics authentication
for directly unlocking electric lock 24 by himself/herself, the flow then
going to step S26. In step S26, local base unit 32 of the home to which
the homecoming resident belongs is informed of the return of the
resident. Thus, the function caused by step S26 serves as a right before
notice of the return of outing one of a family to another one of the
family staying home. In other words, the home-staying one of the family
can expect that a call at local branch unit 49 will be made by the
homecoming one of the family in a few minutes form the before notice
caused at communal entrance hall 6. Thus, the home-staying one of the
family can assume at ease that the call at local branch unit 49 is truly
by the homecoming one of the family, since it is rare that an impostor or
the like makes the call at local branch unit 49 under this situation. On
the other hand, if the expectation of the call at local branch unit 49
has been disappointed for a long time after the notice caused at common
branch unit 14, the home-staying one of the family can note and suspect
that homecoming one of the family would get involved in some accident or
crime getting in the way from communal entrance hall 6 to first home 30
or the like. In the case that the returning resident lives alone, the
information caused by step S26 can be utilized to automatically turn on
the illumination and/or air conditioner of the home. In any case, since
step S26 directly leads to step S24, the recording of the image from face
camera 22 caused by step S14 is not carried out.

[0050]In step 24, the group process for coping with the case that a group
of persons are to successively pass through communal entrance hall 6, the
group process including image recording and announcement in such a case.
The details of the group process will be explained later. By way of step
S24, the flow goes to step S28 to make a direction to unlock electric
lock 24 in communal entrance hall 6. Further, in step S30, a direction is
made to terminate the function of recording image in communal entrance
hall 6 by means of hall camera 18 and also face camera 22 if functioning.
In addition, in step S32, a direction is made to allow the operation
relating to elevator 26, in which any person passing through communal
entrance hall can open the door of elevator 26 and set a destination
floor.

[0051]Next in step S34, elevator process is carried out, in which
functions relating to the image recordation and the announcement in
elevator 26 are carried out. The details of the elevator process in step
S22 will be explained later. Further in step S36, the process of
administration for the recorded image to keep privacy therein is carried
out, the flow then going back to step S2 to repeat the loop of steps led
by step S2. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S20 that the
predetermined time lapsed with the unlock signal retuned in response to
the transmission of the call signal, the flow goes to step S38 to carry
out massage process, in which voice message of the visitor can be left,
the flow the going back to step 2. In the message process, it is
announced that the face recording has begun and the voice message is
recommended to be added to the face image. The details of the message
process in step S38 will be explained later.

[0052]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the visitor
process in step S22 in FIG. 2. If the flowchart starts, it is checked in
step S42 whether or not the unlock signal comes with "acquaintance flag"
accompanying. If not, the flow goes to step S44 to have common branch
unit 14 make the deterrent announce such as "Please note your face has
been just recorded. Thank you." by means of speaker 38 The flow then goes
to step S46 to direct common recorder 16 to attach "security risk visitor
flag" to the recorded face, the flow then going to the end. Such an
attachment of "security risk visitor flag" is advantageously utilized in
case of inspection afterward.

[0053]On the contrary, if it is determined in step S42 that the unlock
signal comes with "acquaintance flag" accompanying, the flow goes to step
S48 to have common branch unit 14 make the notice announcement such as
"Please note that faces of all visitors to this condominium are recorded
upon every intercom conversation for the purpose of keeping safety of
visitors and residents. Your consideration has bee greatly appreciated."
by means of speaker 38. The flow then goes to step S50 to direct common
recorder 16 to attach "acquaintance flag" to the recorded face, the flow
then going to the end. As has been mentioned, the difference in the tone
of announcement depending on the presence or absence of the acquaintance
flag corresponds to the difference in the object of the announcement. On
the other hand, the difference in the flag to be attached to the face
image depending on the presence or absence of the acquaintance flag is
advantageous in searching into face images afterward for examination of
evidence in case of a crime for example. Further, depending on the
acquaintance flag attached to the face image, the face images recorded in
common recorder 16 are kept in such a security condition that anyone
cannot access the face image unless authorized by a person relating to
the visit of the acquaintance. This will be further discussed later.

[0054]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the group
process in step S24 in FIG. 2. If the flowchart starts, it is checked in
step S52 whether or not a group of persons are detected through the image
processing of the output signal form hall camera 18. If not, the flow
goes to step 53 to check whether or not a group of persons are detected
by presence sensor 8. If a group of persons are detected in step S53
thorough presence sensor 8, the flow goes to step S54. Further, if a
group of persons are detected in step S52 through hall camera 18, the
flow also goes to step S54. In step S54, which is caused by the detection
of a group of persons either through hall camera 18 or presence sensor 8,
or through both, "note record" is attached to the recorded image for a
later inspection.

[0055]Further in step S56, it is checked whether or not the "deterrent
announcement" has been directed through step S44 of visitor process in
FIG. 3. If not, the flow goes to step S58 to check whether or not the
"notice announcement" has been directed through step S48 of visitor
process in FIG. 3. If not, the flow goes to step S60 to have common
branch unit 14 make the "deterrent announce" by means of speaker 38, the
flow then going to the end. On the other hand, if it is detected in step
S58 that the "notice announcement" has been directed through step S48 of
visitor process in FIG. 3, the flow goes to step S62 to cancel the
direction of the "notice announcement" to go to step S60. Thus, the
"notice announcement" is replaced by the "deterrent announcement" by
means of steps S62 and S60 in this case.

[0056]As is clear form the above explanation, even if the "notice
announcement" is directed in response to the "acquaintance flag" at the
stage of visitor process in step S22, the "notice announcement" is
changed up to the "deterrent announcement" at the succeeding stage of
group process in step S24 in response to the detection of a group of
persons. This is to cope with a case of a person with bad intention
following an acquaintance visitor duly passing through communal entrance
hall 6. On the other hand, if it is detected in step S56 that the
"deterrent announcement" has been directed through visitor process in
step S22 in FIG. 2, the flow directly goes from step S56 to the end since
there is no need of directing the "deterrent announcement" again or
changing the direction. Further, if it is concluded at the stage of step
S53 that a group of persons are not detected through hall camera 18 or
presence sensor 8, the flow directly goes to the end since there is no
function needed any more in the group process.

[0057]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the elevator
process in step S34 in FIG. 2. If the flowchart starts, it is checked in
step S72 whether or not elevator departs from some floor. If the
departure is detected, the flow goes to step S74 to start or continue the
record of image from elevator camera 40. Further in step S76, it is
checked in step S72 whether or not elevator departs from the floor of
entrance hall 6. This corresponds to a check whether or not the person(S)
has gotten on elevator 26 directly by way of the passage through communal
entrance hall 6. In the case of departure from the entrance hall floor,
the flow goes to step S77 to check whether or not a group of persons were
detected through the image processing of the output signal form hall
camera 18 or through presence sensor 8.

[0058]If it is not determined in step S77 that a group of persons were
detected at communal entrance hall 6, the flow goes to step S78 to check
whether or not a group of persons are now detected in elevator 26 through
the image processing of the output signal form elevator camera 40. If a
group of persons are detected in step S78, the flow goes to step S80 to
have common recorder 16 attach "note record" to the image from elevator
camera 40 for a later inspection. Further, if it is confirmed in step S77
that a group of persons were detected in communal entrance hall 6, the
flow also goes to step S80 for the attachment of the "note record" to the
elevator image for a later inspection. The flow the goes to step S82 to
have elevator 26 make the deterrent announcement by means of speaker 42.

[0059]On the other hand, if a group of persons are not detected in step
S78 through the image of elevator camera 40, the flow goes to step S86 to
check whether or not the operation at common branch unit 14, which was
assumed to be done by a person in elevator 26, was to make a call for
first home 30 or the like to visit by designating the room number
thereof. If the room number designating operation is confirmed in step
86, the flow goes to step S88 to check whether or not the unlock signal
allowing the person to get on elevator 26 came with "acquaintance flag"
accompanying. If not, the flow goes to step S82 to have elevator 26 make
the deterrent announce. Thus, the deterrent announcement to a visitor
with possibly a bad intention entering without "acquaintance flag" is
repeated in elevator 26 in addition to that in communal entrance hall 6.
Such a repetition of the deterrent announcement is expected to more
effectively prevent the person from going ahead with the bad intention by
informing the visitor of the image recordation in elevator 26 in addition
to communal entrance hall 6.

[0060]On the contrary, if it is determined in step S86 that the operation
at common branch unit 14, which was assumed to be done by a person in
elevator 26, was not to designate room number, the person in elevator 26
alone is considered to be a resident who can unlock by himself/herself.
In the case of step S88, if it is determined that the unlock signal came
with "acquaintance flag", the person in elevator alone is considered to
be an acquaintance visitor. Thus, the person in elevator 26 in those
cases is assumed to have well known of the image recordation and
correctly understood its meaning. Accordingly, the flow goes from step
S86 or step S88 to step S84 in those cases with troublesome announcement
omitted. By the way, if the departure of elevator 26 is not detected in
step S72, or if it is confirmed in step S76 that elevator 26 departs from
a floor other than the floor of entrance hall 6, the flow directly goes
to step S84.

[0061]In step S84, it is checked whether or not elevator 26 keeps staying
in the same floor over a predetermined time period. If not, the flow goes
back to step S72 to repeat steps S72 to S88 unless elevator 26 staying in
the same floor over a predetermined time period. On the other hand, if it
is detected in step S84 that elevator 26 keeps staying in the same floor
over a predetermined time period, the flow goes to step S90 to make a
direction to terminate the function of recording image in elevator 26 by
means of elevator camera 40, the flow then going to the end.

[0062]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the message
process in step S38 in FIG. 2. If the flowchart starts, common branch
unit 14 is directed to make a notice announcement by means of speaker 38
to inform the visitor of the face recorder has been in operation.
Further, in step 94, common branch unit 14 is directed to make an
additional announcement by means of speaker 38 to recommend the visitor
to leave voice message in addition to the recorded face for transmitting
best regard or reason of the visit. Next, step S96 is repeated to wait
for such a situation that silence continues over a predetermined time
period, which is expected after completion of a voice message or no
response to the voice message recommendation. If the continued silence is
detected in step S96, the flow goes to step S98 to terminate the face
camera recording and the hall camera recordation, the flow then going to
step S100. This is because that the visitor has gone, where recoding by
face camera 22 or hall camera 18 is not necessary any more.

[0063]In step S100, it is checked whether or not voice message has been
recorded in response the recommendation in step s94. If any, the flow
goes from step S100 to step S102 to add normal massage flag to the
recorded face image, the flow then going to the end. On the contrary, if
it is detected in step S100 that no voice massage recorded, the flow goes
to step S104 to attach "security risk visitor flag" to the recorded face
image, the flow then going to the end also in this case. This is because
that a person of goodwill is expected to leave some voice message to
avoid impoliteness of silence if he/she is informed of the recoding of
his/her face which will be played back afterward. In other words, a
visitor who has gone without a word for all the information of face
recording is assumed be a person with bad intention such as a sneak thief
coming to confirm absence from a target home in advance. The "security
risk visitor flag" attached in step S104 can be also advantageously
utilized in case of inspection afterward.

[0064]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the detailed function of the recorded
image administration process in step S36 in FIG. 2. If the flowchart
starts, it is checked in step S112 whether or not the image is recorded
with "note record" attached in the case of the group entry through
communal entrance hall 6. If not, the flow advances to step S114 to check
whether or not the image is recorded with "security risk visitor flag"
caused by the unlock signal without "acquaintance flag." If not, the flow
further advances to step S116 to check whether or not the image is
recorded with "security risk visitor flag" caused by silence of a visitor
in the case of absence from home. If not, the flow goes to step S118 to
implement a measure of privacy protection with password to the recorded
image, the flow then going to step S120. A recorded image not falling
into any of queries in step S112 to S116 is assumed to be of an
acquaintance visitor for which the privacy has to be carefully kept. Step
S118, accordingly, implements the protection with password to such a
recorded image for preventing the image from being freely played back
without permission.

[0065]On the contrary, as to a recorded image falling into one of queries
in step S112 to S116, it is considered that the necessity of inspection
for security prevails over privacy protection. Thus, the flow goes
directly to step S120 form any of steps S112 to S116. In other word,
anyone can immediately playback the recorded image without password upon
necessity of inspection. In step S120, the recorded image is processed to
combined with digital watermark against falsification, the flow then
going to the end.

[0066]The various features and advantages are not limited to be enjoyed by
the embodiment above, but are widely applicable to other embodiments. For
example, the embodiment in FIG. 1 is shown in a simplified manner in
which only one elevator 26 is included with single approach through ways
4, 28 and 44 formed between communal entrance hall 6 and shared corridor
48. However, the various features and advantages are applicable in an
embodiment with multiple approaches including a plurality of elevators.
In other words, the flowchart in FIG. 2 is explained as a series of steps
on the basis of the simplified embodiment in FIG. 1, in which the loop of
steps S2 to S36 cannot be repeated unless every step has been completed
one by one. For example, the second execution of step 2 for presence
detection in communal entrance hall 6 cannot occur unless the first
execution of the elevator process in step S34 has been completed. This is
because that there is no approach for a visitor to go ahead from communal
entrance hall 6 into shared corridor 48 unless elevator 26 comes back to
the floor of communal entrance hall 6 with the elevator process in step
S34 completed, which makes it unnecessary to check in step S2 the
presence in communal entrance hall 6 unless elevator process in step S34
has been completed. In the case of the embodiment with multiple
approaches including a plurality of elevators, on the contrary, the
functions relating to communal entrance hall 6 and the functions relating
to elevator 26 are not carried out in series, but are carried out in
parallel. In this case, the elevator process, the detailed flowchart of
which is shown in FIG. 5 is not located at step S34, but is arranged to
be carried out independently from the flow in FIG. 2 in response to the
operation at one of the elevators.

[0067]According to another example of other embodiments, the deterrent
against a visitor with bad intention or the notice to a visitor with
goodwill is carried out by means of visual means in place of or in
addition to the audio means as in the above embodiment. In other words,
common branch unit 14 and elevator 26 is arranged to further include an
indicator or a monitor for displaying the deterrent message or notice
message. Especially, in the case of common branch unit 14 having such an
indicator or a monitor, the visitor is capable of being informed of the
visual deterrent or notice message during the intercom conversation.